Operational Participation of Pratu Pa Agricultural Cooperatives Members in Muang District, Lamphun Province

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to investigate: 1) socio-economic attributes of Pratu Pa agricultural cooperatives membership; 2) operational participation of Pratu Pa agricultural cooperatives membership; 3) factors affecting members' participation of Pratu Pa agricultural cooperatives membership; 4) problems encountered and suggestions about operational participation of Pratu Pa agricultural cooperatives membership in Mueang Lamphun district, Lamphun province. The sample group in this consisted of 221 cooperatives membership obtained by multi–stage sampling. A set of questionnaires was used for data collection and analysis by using frequency, percentage, mean, minimum, maximum, standard deviation, and regression statistic.
Results of the study presented to: 1) most of the respondents were male and married. The average age of respondents was 59 years old. They elementary school were graduates and below. The respondent had 4 members of family on average, 3 household workforces in family. They had their own land for farming with an average size of 5 rai, average annual income 105,257 Baht, respondents loan of cooperative 56 members, average 18,228 Baht per person. Number of shares cooperative 3,732 Baht per person on average. They received news on farming and cooperative for 11 times per month on average. They contacted cooperative staff twice a month and neighbor for 3 times per month on average. Most cooperative membership do not have social status. The average for experience of training and visit agriculture farm 1 times a year. The mean of cooperative member periods were 11 years; 2) Four operational participation of cooperatives members were resolving, operation, benefit receiving and evaluation had a moderate level; 3) Factors of affect operational participation of Pratu Pa agricultural cooperatives members have 6 factors were number of cooperative loan, number of shares cooperative, perceived news on farming and cooperative, contacted cooperative staff, contacted neighbor, experience of training and visit agriculture farm; 4) Problem and suggestion about important participation were participation to sell product was low, timeless because have a lot of work, and lack of knowledge for understand in participation with cooperatives. Suggestions for operational participation were cooperatives should supply the market for increase distribution agricultural product especially in longan season, cooperative should spread the purchase product from members. Cooperatives should have training and visit agriculture farm in other areas for increase knowledge and participation with cooperative membership.